River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-02-17
TOMMY'S Partnership.

HOdgSOn, DuntOrd x Parr, st. SWlthin 5
Lane, Lombard street. 1t was neither
very responsible nor a ve~y lucrative
position, and Tommy Gas all his friends
called him) longed, as perhaps $4,000
young men in similar situation in
London are longing this moment, for
chance of turning his brains to better
account than adding up columns Of
figures and copying entries from one
big book into another. The chance did
not come, but Tommy did not
despair; and there was this differ
ence between him and the great major
ity of his fellow prisoners
of the desk-he had the pluck to work
away manfully at whatever he thought
might ossibly some day help him to
better his position, even though he
could not see exactly how it was to be
done. With this end in view he got up
French, German and Italian; and he
did everything he could to pick up in
formation as TO the financial circum-
stances of the customers of the bank.
He scraped acquaintance with every
clerk employed by those who had ac-
counts at the bank. as far as hepossibly
couA, and picked up in time an idea,
more or less accurate, as to the COM
mercial status of most of them.
One day he happened to be at lunch
in his favorite restaurant, when an ac-
quaintance named Darling came in and
sat down beside him. After a little
casual conversation Darling asked him
to let him know of any vacant clerk
ship he might hear Of
Il will, certainly, old fellow" re-
turned Tommy; ''but | hope you have
not got into a row with Appleton.
(Frederick Appleton was Darling's
brother-in-law, and he was also the
Secretary of the Mudford and County
Chemical Company. in whose counting
house young Darling had a subordinate
post.)
80, no, nothing of the kind" re-
turned Darling; and then he changed
the subject
On his way back 10 the bank after
lunch. Mathers asked himself why Oar
ling should leave his present situation.
He had capital prospect there-his
brother-in-law being the Secretary
and there W. no disagreement between
him and his influential relative. Could
it be that Darling had had hint
from his brother-in-law that the Chem
zeal Company was getting into shallow
water and that it behooved him to be
looki~ 2 out for another situation? 1t
seemed more than likely; and young
Mathers determined to act ut once. He
slipped into the back parlor that after
noon, hoping to find the juniorpartner,
Mr.. Parr, a gOod-natured sort of man.
who was not likely to snub him for
volunteering information. To his dis
appointment he found only Mr.. Hodg
son, sour-tempered old man. who
was struggling into his overcoat pre-
paratory to leaving the office for the
day.
.'Well," growled the banker, .'what
do you want?"
Tommy was on the point of saying
that he had come to speak to Mr.. Parr,
but in a moment he changed his mind.
81 heard something today. sir, he
replied, THAT made me think that the
Nludford Company are not in a very
good way
"Well what of it9 what's that to
me?"
Nothing. sir; only l thought there
was no harm in letting you know"
Anything of that kind you can say
to Mr.. Parkinson, answered the old
gentleman rs he seized his umbrella
and waddled down the passage.
Tommy felt snubbed; but he did not
mind that much He had done what
he wanted brought himself under the
personal notice of one of the partners.
If he had given the hint to Parkinson,
the head cashier, Parkinson, not he,
would have all the credit of it. He re-
tired to his place among the other
clerks a little sore at the rebuff. vet not
entirely dissatisfied.
On his way home Mr.. Hodgson re-
membered that the bank held some
shares of the Mudford Chemical Com
pany as security for the balance of the
account of one of their customers who
was deemed rather shaky. Next morn
ing. accordingly, he called Tommy into
his room. and questioned him rs to the
nature of his information.
perhaps you will excuse my enter
ing into that, sir, said Tommy. with
the utmost GOODNESS.
Mr. Hodgson dismissed MatheTs to
his work with dissatisfied grunt and
wave of his hand. and Immediately set
TO work to have the shares of the Mud
ford Company exchanged for other
securities.
Tommy, who managed to know most
of what happened at the bank, noted
the fact and reioiced.
Within six weeks the shareholders of
the Mudford Chemical Company met
and resolved to go into liquidation;
and. though Mr.. Hodgson did not think
it worth while to thank the junior clerk
for the information he had given, Tom
my was perfectly satisfied. He knew
that people do not forget things which
save their pockets.
It happened that, some months afterthe
incident of the Mudford Chemical Com
pany, Messrs. Hodgson had important
business to transact in Turin, and it
was thought advisable that the senoir
partner should proceed to that city to
look after it. There was some idea, if
the prospect seemed favorable. Of start
ing a branch house there The ques
ton then arose which of the clerks |
should accompany the head of the firm
as his secretary; and Mr.. Hodgson,
mindful of the service which Aathers |
had rendered him, consulted the mead |
cashier on tie propriety Of the selection.
Parkinson. it happened, had favorite
of his own. and Tommy would have